ADAM Hickey takes on part two of a gruelling run of three top-class races in as many weeks when he races for Great Britain at the Great Edinburgh Cross on Saturday.

The 25-year-old is part of the GB team that will take on a select European team and the USA in the traditional fixture screened live on the BBC.

It comes a week after he finished an encouraging 10th place at the Antrim International in Northern Ireland and seven days before he takes on the latest British Cross challenge meet in Cardiff.

“It is a bit busy but I’m feeling more confident with each race and that’s what Eamonn (Martin, Hickey’s coach) wanted when we looked at these races. Hopefully, I can continue that and take it on to the big events coming up like the Nationals and Intercounties,” Hickey said.

The Southend AC athlete said he was pleased with his run in Northern Ireland where he was the second British athlete home, 38 seconds behind the first placed Brit Andy Vernon was bronze at the European Cross-Country Championships.

Hickey also finished the 10km course in 30m 12s which is a personal best over the distance on any surface. “I really need to run a 10km on the roads now,” he laughed.

Hickey runs for GB at the Great Edinburgh Cross for the second time in as many years.

Last year he admits he really shouldn’t have run after injuring his calf in the lead-up to the race. But this time around, Hickey is raring to go and ready to make an impression on what is a field stacked with talent.

“Most of the top finishers at the European Cross-Country Championships will be there,” revealed Hickey, who was 25th at those championships in Belgrade.

“I’m in much better shape than I was last year. I was hobbling around by this point then. It’s only 8km so it’s going to be really fast. I want to be one of the top Brits to finish and to pick off some of the Europeans that beat me in Belgrade. Hopefully, I can then carry that on to Cardiff.”

The Great Edinburgh Cross is live on BBC1 tomorrow from 1.15pm.